Boot or shoe, composite sole therefor, and method of making



Oct. l2 1926.

v B. F. HARTWELL `BOOT 0R SHOE, COMPOSITE SOLE THEREFOR, AND METHODOE MAKING Filed Appii 27, ,192e

Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN' F. HABTWELL- OF WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT 0B SHOE, COMPOSITE SOLE THEREFOR, AND METHOD 0F MAKING.

Application led April 2?, 1926. Serial No.1104.,975.

-My present invention relates to novel boots or shoes, composite soles for use there? -discovered that it is desirable and essential to provide some further stitch retaining means between the composite sole and the shoe to which itis att-achedthan merely the `Vmidsole of combined -rubber or rubber comcrepe or latex rubber.

position and lcrepe rubber. To this end I have devised the novel shoe, and composite sole, illustrated in the'drawing herein.

The stitch retaining means may/consist in a layer of thin upper leather, or split leather canvas, or any other material which will have sufiicient4 strength to assist in holding the stitching. In a welt shoe this stitch retaining layer would be between the combined midsole and the welt, and in a McKay shoe it would be between the combined midsole and the upper.

Since the oint of greatest wear and strain on the stitc es comes at "the toe portion ofV the shoe, I preferably apply. my stitch receiving and reinforcing layer at the toe portion only, extending a suiiicient distance from the point of the toe to afford a substantial reinforcement., I may also, if desired,.carry this stitch'receiving and reinforcing layer throughout the entire length ofthe combined midsole, to the shank portion ofthe sole or In vmanufacturing a boot or shoe under my novel method, the composite sole'isl iirst formed, comprising a leather shank and heel portion `to which is attached, by means of the novel interlocking joint described in `my said prior applications, a rubber or rubber composition forepart layer having 4secured' thereto, as by cementing, a midsole of To the upper surface ofthe rubber or rubber'composition layer I then cement of' otherwise attach my novel stitch retaining and reinforcing layer, either for the toe portion of the'v shoe, or extending substantially the full length of the rubber or rubber composition layer. These combined forepart layers are then" united to the leather shank and heel portion, at the intery locking joint, by stitching and cementing, so

that a strong and wear resisting joint is provided, preferably in a non-flexing part of the shank of the shoe.

This novel composite --sole, thus formed y and united, is then attached to the shoe, either welt or McKay, by stitching, or other mechanical fastenings,4 whereupon an outsole, preferably of crepe rubber, is united to the crepe midsole lby the Well-known twounit process, wherein the outsole is unified with the midsole, by vpartially dissolving the contacting surfaces, or one of them, of the midsole and outsole, and applying together, under pressure, until unified.

In the novel shoe thus constructed, I secure the full flexibility of the forepart and wear resisting qualities'of they crepe rubber, combined with the advantages of a leather shank and heel seat portion, together with the furthery assurance of the additional re. inforcement provided by my novel stitch retaining member at the toe or forepart.

Further features of the invention, details land advantages, will. be hereinafter more apreferred embodiment of my present in-v vention, Y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a welt shoe embodying my present invention;

` Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a similar shoe with a full length reinforcing layer; f

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the com'- posite sole;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View of the forepart of a welt shoe, illustrating my novel stitching retaining layer in position; and

Fig. 5 is a similar cross-sectional view of a McKay shoe.

.While my invention resides primarily in the sole and method of joining same, I also consider that I have effected a substantial and novel improvement. in the boot orshoe structures, vwhether of welt or McKay type, p' and therefore I wish to claim all of these features herein,Vv Y ,j v v l .l

Fig. 1 illustratesin side elevation, a conventional welt shoe lof `the oxford type,`

wherein the upper '1 has joined to it a welt 2. A fiber or rubber sole member 3, to which is secured a midsole 4 of thin crepe lll) 'as benzol, and assembling rubber, is then attached to a leather sole member 5 of an area to extend over the shank and heel seat of the shoe. The rubber or fiber sole 3 and midsole 4 of crepe rubber are joined in anysuitable manner, by solvents, cements, or the like, and each secured to the leather sole portion 5 in a scarf 6, provided therefor, in any suitable Inanner, preferably by stitching 7 and reinforced by cement. The reinforcing layer 8 is also vsecured to this composite sole, preferably by cenenting. The layer 8 may be of any desired material of sufficient strength to assist in the retaining of the stitches and to also act as a reinforcement, such as thin split leather, upper, leather, canvas or the like. The compositesole, as thus far described, is then secured to the shoe in the usual manner, as by stitching or other mechanical fastenA ings, heel-seat nailing, etc. With this composite sole secured to the shoe, an outsole 9, preferably of crepe rubber, is then joined to the 'midsole 4 in the usual manner, preferably by coating the contacting surfaces of the soles 4 and 9 with a suitable solvent, such the two soles together, preferably under pressure, until the outsole 9 has unified with the midsole 4 in a firm, homogeneous manner, forming a neat, attractive, firm, strong and eicient" shoe structure, and one of great wear-resisting capacity; A conventional heel 10 is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,which may be of rubber, leather or the' like. As shown in Fig. 1, the jointure of the leather and rubber sole members comes substantially at the arch of the shoe, away from the iexing or bendingy of the sole In Walking, and being thus relieved of any liability of breaking away caused by such strains.

Fig. 2 illustrates substantially the same structure described in Fig. 1, with the exception that I may desire to add a layer 11 of the same material as the layer 8 in Fig. l, the layer 11\extending substantially the length and area of the rubber or composition layer 3. The method of constructing the composite sole, and attaching same to the shoe,1would be the same as 'described for 3 illustrates, in cross-section, the method of attachment of my novel sole to a shoeof the welt type, wherein the upper 1, welt 2, and insole 12 are united by inseam stitching 13. To the welt is then attached the composite sole comprising` the layer 8 or 11, rubber or fiber sole 3, and vmidsole 4, by welt stitching 14.- The outsole 9 is illustrated as unified with the midsole 4.

li`ig.'5` illustrates he method of `attachment to a McKay shoe, wherein the upper 1, insole 15 andcomposite sole 8, 3 and 4, are all united byl through and through stitching 16, the outsole 9 being shown unified to the crepe midsole 4.

The advantages of thus having the stitching holding the composite sole, concealed under the outsole 9, and therefore not subjected to Wear, Will be readily appreciated.

While I have necessarily described my invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I am not limited thereto, but may vary the size, shape and arrangement of parts Within reasonably Wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claimsas follows:

1. A composite sole, comprising a leather shank and heel portion, a forepart composed of a layer of rubber or rubber composition to which is adhered amidsole of crepe rubber, an interlocking transverse joi t between the leather sole portion and both said rubber layers in a non-flexing part of the arch or shank, and a stitch-retaining and reinforcing layer on the uppertoe portion of said forepart.

2. A composite sole, comprising a leather shank and heel portion, a forepart composed of a layer of rubber or rubber composition to Which is adhered a midsole of crepe rubber, an interlocking transverse joint between the leather sole portion and both lsaid rubber layers in a non-flexing' part of the arch or shank, and a stitch-retaining and reinforcing layer on the upper surface of said foreart. p 3. An improved boot or shoe, having a composite sole comprising a leather shank and heel portion, a forepart composed of a layer of rubber or rubber composition to which is `adhered a midsole of cr'epe rubber, an interlocking transverse joint be-tween the leather sole portion and both said rubber layers in a non-liexing part of the arch or shank, a stitch retaining and reinforcing layer secured to the upper surface of said forepart, said composite sole being secured to the shee by mechanical fastening devices, and a crepe rubber outsole unified with said crepe rubber midsole and concealing and protecting the mechanical fastening devices in said mldsole. y

4. The improved process of making composite soles, which consists in uniting a layer of rubber or rubber composition with a midsole of crepe rubber, uniting said joined layers 4with* a leather shankand heel portion in. a transverse interlocking joint by stitching and cementing, and securing a stitchretaining and reinforcing layeron the upper surface of said composite sole.

In testimony whereof, I Have signed my name to this specification. 

